Huizhou Ancient City, a UNESCO-listed gem in southern Anhui Province, is China’s most complete surviving example of a Ming-Qing Dynasty prefectural city. Established in 1265 CE and expanded under the Ming Dynasty, it served as the political, economic, and cultural heart of Huizhou Prefecture for 700 years. The 2.8-square-kilometer walled city, with its iconic white walls, dark tiles, and horse-head gables, embodies Huizhou culture—a fusion of Neo-Confucian philosophy, merchant legacies, and Hui-style architecture. Designated a National Historical and Cultural City in 1986, it remains a living museum of China’s scholar-official tradition.